ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴇɴ : ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ɪꜱ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʀᴜɪɴ ᴍʏ ᴅᴀʏ

This trip has consisted of us talking about blue jellybeans.

After what feels like forever, we finally arrive at the amusement park Ares was discussing. It's called Waterland. In my opinion, that name's very bland. Like unseasoned chicken or plain white rice. Although I do love white rice.

The amusement park is dull and monotonous, looking worn down and abandoned. Percy and I look at the depressing theme park.

"I haven't seen a lot of horror movies, but this seems exactly like the kind of place they'd suggest to avoid," Percy remarks. I think of any horror movie and realize I haven't watched any.

"I've never watched a horror movie in my life," I say. Percy looks up to me.

"Like, never never?" Percy asks, staring at me in my eyes.

"Never never."

"Not even Scream?" Percy questions. I shake my head and his jaw practically drops. We keep walking into the amusement park.

"Well, if neither of us is dead in a few days, we really ought to fix that," Percy adds. "You're missing out." I smile as I feel something hit my heart. It hurts, but also feels good. Okay, this is super confusing. Percy warmly smiles back and holds eye contact.

"In the meantime, we should probably get this over with, though," Percy says, breaking the eye contact. We keep walking until we approach the entrance door. He tries to enter first. There is a metal clanging sound as he pushes it forward.

"Wait, no! Stop!" I shout, running over to the machinery. Percy stops in his tracks and looks over at me. I step where Percy was standing and look for any unusual pieces that could kill us.

"Wait, what just happened?" He questions, sounding freaked out. I squint my eyes and try to think of anything I learned in school. It seems like it is made of some type of bronze, which could be what Percy's sword is made from. I honestly am not super wise, so I can't tell him any other details.

"I believe this is made from a form of bronze. If your sword is made from the same-" I take a moment to think. "If you're a demigod or something else..."

"Well, what's it doing here?" Percy asks.

"I'm not so sure. But if they wanted to detect demigods, it has to be made by someone who knows we exist," I explain. "I'm assuming a god built it." Percy looks over at me as I scan the machinery once more.

"What kind of god builds amusement parks?" Percy wonders. Wow, he must not remember anything from Greek mythology.

"Uh, Hephaestus, duh!" I exclaim. "Just, push through." Percy stares at me like I am crazy.

"Are you crazy!" Percy says, touching my shoulder.

"Yes!" I reply, touching his. We quickly scramble back to our old position, his face turning red like a rose. "Just go, and trust me." He turns back to the entrance and licks his lips. He freezes and I huff angrily.

"Cause weren't you the one this morning who was all, the Fates say one of us is gonna die and we should take it really seriously?" Percy reminds, nervousness taking over him. I sigh.

"Percy?"

"Yeah?"

"Just go through the damn gate," I respond. If he doesn't, I will definitely push him. Sorry not sorry. But, he turns to the gate and pushes, the machinery making a squeaking noise. He slowly moves after it. There's a clock ticking noise, causing Percy to look up.

"What was that?" Percy questions, looking at me. I look up at the people counter as it goes up to 1.

"The machine won't hurt us, it's here to probably mislead us," I respond, looking at the blondie. I push the gate and it starts to move. The gate makes a grinding sound against the wall, and I eventually reach Percy. He smiles brightly at me.

"Nice work. Didn't know you were as good at smartness as you are as looks," Percy says, mumbling the last sentence. He thinks that I didn't hear the second part, but I definitely did. I can feel my face burning as I smile.

"What'd you say?" I ask, combing my hair with my fingers.

"Oh, nothing, don't worry. I guess Hephaestus wanted to know if any time one of us came poking around his playground. I guess now he knows," Percy assumes, watching as the people counter goes up to 2. We start to walk toward the rides in the amusement park, in search for the shield.

~

We've been looking and gliding around the amusement park for what feels like forever, but it's only been about 10 minutes. It's been silent except for a few "I think it's here" moments.

"Oh wow," I remark, looking around at all of the bright colors and blinding lights. Some cut off the moment I say that and I roll my eyes. We turn to walk next to a roller coaster that got shut down in the middle of a turn. Percy turns to me and just stares until he says something.

"If it belongs to the god of craftsmen, what was the god of war doing here? Aren't they enemies? Then why'd he split without the shield?" Percy inquires. I ponder for a moment. I know Hephaestus was married to someone having an affair with Ares. I just can't remember who. Maybe Athena?

"If I'm guessing, Ares always had a thing with-"

"Aphrodite. Oh you're kidding. He met her here? In her husband's park? That's so wrong," Percy vocalizes, sounding disgusted. Oh my gods, that thought is going to ruin my day.

"It's worse for me! My mom, who had a child with my dad, married Hephaestus and fucked Ares? That's traumatic," I retort, feeling like I'm about to vomit my intestines. Percy laughs, and I roll my eyes. "This isn't a laughing matter!"

"It definitely is, Serie," Percy responds back, still laughing as he shifts closer to me. "One thing Ares was telling the truth about: this family is a mess." Lights flicker from a tunnel, and we turn our heads to observe it. The letters flicker on and off, revealing a sign. Thrill Ride of Love.

"Don't you even make a damn excuse on why this isn't weird," I express, staring blankly at the sign.

"I didn't say anything," Percy replies. I purse my lips.

"I can feel you thinking it. Anyway, this must be where the shield is and where Ares and Aphrodite got caught. God, my mom can do so much better. Ares is not attractive at all, and I have outstanding taste," I rant as we approach the ride. Percy rolls his eyes.

"How do I put up with you?"

"I'm honestly not so sure, Percy. Not so sure."

𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔨𝔰 𝔣𝔬𝔯 𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔦𝔫𝔤 🫶